1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Split Second. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
This play takes place in New York City, Manhattan. The time occurs on the evening of 4th of July and ends on the morning July 6th. The main character is an African American cop by the name of Val Johnson. He murders a white male names William H. Willis. He is married to a woman name Alea who is a teacher and has a father (Rusty Johnson) who is an ex-cop. Val works with another cop by the name of Charlie (who also fought in the war) and Parker. 2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
The intrusion of the play occurred when Val went to go talk to Rusty (his father). I believe this is the intrusion because this is the first time that Val is openly honest about what happened. Given it's because Rusty is a retired cop and he figured it out, but Val admitted to doing it. This is the first time that Val admitted it out loud. The other times he only said this when the other character went away or he would change his story. But his dad got the truth from him. 3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day that a man loses his lie. This is also a day that signifies Independence. But the main character life is now in the hands of a lie. 4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
What will happen after the hearing? If he is caught lying what will happen to him? How will this lie affect the relationships with the people around him and how will it affect him. 5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
In this play Val doesn't want to tell the truth. But it seems as the play progresses more and more of the truth comes to light. His father, Rusty, was the key component to make Val go against himself. Each character wants the truth from Val and occasionally he will let the truth out but Rusty is the only one to get Val to openly admit it first. Parker knew things weren't as they seems, Alea some what picked up on the hints and Charlie got some of the truth. But Rusty got it all. 6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
Some of the most theatrical moments in Split Second are as follows:
1. When Val pulls a gun out on William H Willis.
2. When Val shot Willis and planted everything.
3. When Val goes to Rusty house
4. When Val is on the "stand" telling the lie for the last time. 7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1. The scene where Parker acts out the events that Val said happens. It allows he audience to see even Parker knows that something about the story doesn't make sense
2. 4th of July. this is the setting of the play. It is an important holiday in the USA. It signifies freedom and all tings positive. however when William resorts in calling Val negative names stemmed from hatred it shows that maybe independence day doesn't mean the same thing for everybody.
3. the gun and the name. Once Val pulls the gun on William Willis the title of the play becomes much more clear. The split second between taking two lives (because Val's life will change too and the guilt will eat him away) or ignoring the hurtful comments that he is supposed to take with as grain of salt. 8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
The theme of truth and justice are prominent in this play. It seems as though everyone but Val and Alea wants the truth. The theme of race is there as well. The question " if he was black will you still have shot him" is asked a couple of times. William H. Willis as results in bringing race, demeaning the authority of any black officer. 9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Family is broken in this play. The father and son relationship between Val and Rusty seems to be distant, although Rusty moved closer just to be near his son. It appears that Val blames his decision on becoming an officer on his father. Alea and Val are married but the relationship seems one-sided. They both love each other, but Val is there physically. He isn't always there emotionally like Alea wants.
This play takes place in New York City, Manhattan. The time occurs on the evening of 4th of July and ends on the morning July 6th. The main character is an African American cop by the name of Val Johnson. He murders a white male names William H. Willis. He is married to a woman name Alea who is a teacher and has a father (Rusty Johnson) who is an ex-cop. Val works with another cop by the name of Charlie (who also fought in the war) and Parker.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
The intrusion of the play occurred when Val went to go talk to Rusty (his father). I believe this is the intrusion because this is the first time that Val is openly honest about what happened. Given it's because Rusty is a retired cop and he figured it out, but Val admitted to doing it. This is the first time that Val admitted it out loud. The other times he only said this when the other character went away or he would change his story. But his dad got the truth from him.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day that a man loses his lie. This is also a day that signifies Independence. But the main character life is now in the hands of a lie.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
What will happen after the hearing? If he is caught lying what will happen to him? How will this lie affect the relationships with the people around him and how will it affect him.
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
In this play Val doesn't want to tell the truth. But it seems as the play progresses more and more of the truth comes to light. His father, Rusty, was the key component to make Val go against himself. Each character wants the truth from Val and occasionally he will let the truth out but Rusty is the only one to get Val to openly admit it first. Parker knew things weren't as they seems, Alea some what picked up on the hints and Charlie got some of the truth. But Rusty got it all.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
Some of the most theatrical moments in Split Second are as follows:
1. When Val pulls a gun out on William H Willis.
2. When Val shot Willis and planted everything.
3. When Val goes to Rusty house
4. When Val is on the "stand" telling the lie for the last time.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1. The scene where Parker acts out the events that Val said happens. It allows he audience to see even Parker knows that something about the story doesn't make sense
2. 4th of July. this is the setting of the play. It is an important holiday in the USA. It signifies freedom and all tings positive. however when William resorts in calling Val negative names stemmed from hatred it shows that maybe independence day doesn't mean the same thing for everybody.
3. the gun and the name. Once Val pulls the gun on William Willis the title of the play becomes much more clear. The split second between taking two lives (because Val's life will change too and the guilt will eat him away) or ignoring the hurtful comments that he is supposed to take with as grain of salt.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
The theme of truth and justice are prominent in this play. It seems as though everyone but Val and Alea wants the truth. The theme of race is there as well. The question " if he was black will you still have shot him" is asked a couple of times. William H. Willis as results in bringing race, demeaning the authority of any black officer.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Family is broken in this play. The father and son relationship between Val and Rusty seems to be distant, although Rusty moved closer just to be near his son. It appears that Val blames his decision on becoming an officer on his father. Alea and Val are married but the relationship seems one-sided. They both love each other, but Val is there physically. He isn't always there emotionally like Alea wants.